Rail-joint



(No Model.)

T. C. DU PONT. RAIL JOINT.

No. 57,998. Patented Sept. 2 18916.

WITNESSES; INVENTOH UNITED STATE ATENT OFFICE.

A RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567.998, dated September 22, 1896. Applioatihn filed June 2, 1896. Serial No. 594,021. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS COLEMAN DU PONT, of J ohnstown, county of Oambria, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following specification is a true and exact description, due reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements in combination-joints, as they are termed, that is, a joint or splice for joining two rails of unlike cross-sections together.

The object of my invention is to provide a joint that shall be stronger and more durable than those heretofore made and possessing other advantages hereinafter pointed out.

My invention has special reference to j oining the usual form of girder street-car rail to what is commonly known as the T-rail. These rails have been heretofore joined by means of combination splice-bars as they are termed, that is, splice-bars the two endsof which fit the rail they lie against, that is to say, one half of the bar would be of a shape to fit the girder-rail, while the other half would be of a shape to fit the T-rail. These bars have been formed either by blacksmithing or forging or by Welding two pieces of bar, each fitting one of the rails, together. These bars are often a source of trouble,owin g to poor fitting or workmanship. By my invention I am enabled to employ the usual rolled splice-bar without any further treatment of it, thus insuring a good fit and perfect alinement of the joint.

I will now describe my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of the adjoining ends of two rails joined by a joint embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the same on the line of the bolt-holes. Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are respectively sections on lines X, Y, and Z of Fig. 1.

A is the girder-rail, (shown in section in Fig. 4,) having the head 0, tram D, web E, and base-flanges F.

B is the T-rail, (shown in section in Fig. 6,) having head II, web I, and base-flanges L. By reference to the respective sections it Will be seen that while in the case of rail B the web is located centrallybeneath the head,

in the case of rail A the head is thrown to I one side of the web.

In general a joint embodying my invention comprises in addition to the splice-bars, one on each side, a filler block or blocks interposed between the rails and splice-bars, as hereinafter described. As the rails lie in position it will usually be found that one of the standard-bars of each section will fit against its rail and will stand awayfrom the other rail. In my joint I fill this space up by means of a filling-block P, one face of which is adapted to fit against the rail, while the other face is fitted to receive the splice-bar. In the special sections of rails I have shown the webs are so differently located that I have been enabled to form the filling-block in one piece, thus forming a much stiffer joint. It will occur sometimes, however, that the webs are not so far from alining with each other and the filling-block must needs be made in two pieces.

I Referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the block P is fitted closely to the side of rail A, the same as asplice-bar would. The outside of this is fitted to receive the splice-bar O, which is the standard-bar for the rail B. Likewise by referring to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the block P is fitted against the rail 13 on the inside, while the outside is fitted to receive the splice-bar T, which is the standard for rail A. This fillingblock should be provided with the top and bottom flanges f or their equivalent, so that the splice-bars may get the proper top-and-bottom bearing, as they do on their respective rails. The bolts passing through the several parts serve to hold all firmly in place. It will thus be seen that I am enabled to join two rails of unlike crosssection, using the standard splice-bars, and am enabled to form a joint of great strength and durability. The block P may be made in a variety of ways. It may be cast of iron or steel, or it may be forged from steel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect byLetters Patent, is

1. In combination with two abutting rails of unlike cross-section, a pair of splice-bars, each bar fitting one of the rails, a filling-piece between each rail and the bar not fitting it and means for securing the whole together.

2. I11 combination with two abutting rails of unlike crosssection, a pair of splice-bars, each bar fitting one of the rails, a filling-piece between the rail and the barnot fitting them, one end of said filling-piece being on one side of one rail and the other end being on the other side of the other rail.

3. In a rail-joint, in combination with two rails having differently disposed webs, a

10 splice-bar fitting one side of one rail, another 

